Proper snow shoveling etiquette? (My first snowy winter)

[TwiceOver]

I think at the end of the season I'll buy a blower.

Here you are required to clear your sidewalk and if you want to get mail, the area around your mailbox.

EDIT: Been driving in the snow all my life, don't know what a "snow tire" is. I guess I always thought a tire was a tire.

 

[ManyBeers]

I heard that on the news this year. Pisses me off. It's a scam for the city to make money.

It also made me paranoid so I bought a snow blower...luckily I could afford it. In past years there's no way I could.

I live in a 4-plex about 1/4 mile north of the 700E 2100S intersection in Sugarhouse.
We don't get enough snow to justify a snowblower. The sidewalk in front of the building is maybe 50 feet long so I just shovel and occasionally toss a little ice melt down.

 

[TheNinja]

WTF, is that thing real? How do you even lift it up to dump the snow off it? Or do you just push it around like a retard?

I think those are basically intended for clearing a sidewalk or maybe a driveway when you have 1-2" of light fluffy snow. You can just push the stuff to the side easily. If you have deep drifts or heavy snow it's not going to work or course.

 

[Saint Nick]

I usually help out my neighbors by shoveling the sidewalk a few houses down, as well as shoveling their driveways.

Sometimes they'll return the favor.

 

[Trey22]

Dangit, I need a real snow shovel. This crappy plastic one (even though it has a metal strip at the end) is driving me crazy.

 

[Saint Nick]

Get one with a bladed tip. Careful around your car! I have knicked my car plenty of times with mine

Also the ones with the bended handle work a lot better and you can easily move more at a time.

 

[middlehead]

I usually help out my neighbors by shoveling the sidewalk a few houses down, as well as shoveling their driveways.

Sometimes they'll return the favor.

The last house I lived in, which was when I still lived with my parents, we were right in the middle of the block and I'd just go two houses in either direction up the sidewalk - I'd leave the walkways for people to do themselves, but the sidewalks got done.

I figured it was a good workout to do in the winter, plus by that point I was the only person on the block between 9 and 40.

 

[nanette1985]

Oh, and if it's a lot of snow, it's obligatory to take a break in the shoveling and make a huge snowman.

 

[ussfletcher]

Make sure you salt all of your sidewalks, if someone slips and falls on your sidewalk you are responsible. You must clear a path to your mailbox to get your mail delivered, and you are probably required to clear public sidewalks adjacent to your property. (That will be a hefty fine if you do not and are supposed to)

 

[Homerboy]

Oh, and if it's a lot of snow, it's obligatory to take a break in the shoveling and make a huge snowman.

:thumbsup:

I also find that when my kids are out there with me, it is required I pelt them with a few dozen snow balls too.

 

[ussfletcher]

Oh and a personal tip, go to a parking lot after we get our first good snowfall and practice snow driving. If you drive like I think someone from California will drive on the snow, you will get run off the road. (if you don't slide off yourself)

In Michigan we see enough snow that it usually only warrants driving 60-70 on the freeway instead of 80.

 

[Homerboy]

OP you really need 2 types of shovels:

http://www.amazon.com/Suncast-SC3250...2012237&sr=8-1

and

http://www.amazon.com/Ames-True-Temp...012237&sr=8-18

One to literally "shovel" (I do suggest the ergonomic ones. They help a ton) and one to "push" and act like a plow. The latter is good for those fluffy days, and the earlier for those wet/soggy days.

 

[Saint Nick]

The last house I lived in, which was when I still lived with my parents, we were right in the middle of the block and I'd just go two houses in either direction up the sidewalk - I'd leave the walkways for people to do themselves, but the sidewalks got done.

I figured it was a good workout to do in the winter, plus by that point I was the only person on the block between 9 and 40.

Indeed!

After a few hours of shoveling, I always feel pretty drained. Great workout!

 

[sandorski]

WTF, is that thing real? How do you even lift it up to dump the snow off it? Or do you just push it around like a retard?

Far less retarded than you might think.

 

[Paladin3]

My wife regularly shovels the sidewalk and walkway when it snows. She says she loves the workout. Yeah, I'm a luck bastard. She loves sports, too.

 

[jaha2000]

Where at in MI?
I am in Kalamazoo.

 

[Mermaidman]

Now I know why the elderly flock south.

I'll give you one that will knock you off your rocker then. When the city deems it necessary to replace the sidewalk (or parts there-of) in front of your house, guess who foots that bill? That's right; the homeowner. I've know people with corner lots that have gotten hit with $6K sidewalk replacement bills. It's VERY common around here too as there are countless trees (many VERY old and large) planted in the median between sidewalk and street. The roots just up-heave the sidewalk sections at will.

Hopefully homeowner's insurance will cover!

 

[ghost recon88]

Where at in MI?
I am in Kalamazoo.

Same thing I was gonna ask. I'm in Lansing.

 

[Trey22]

OP updated w/ location.

 

[Homerboy]

Hopefully homeowner's insurance will cover!

Nope.

 

[bruceb]

Here in NJ, you are required to clear the sidewalk and also snow from the top / hood / trunk of cars. You can be ticketed for failure to do either one (but so far enforcement is lax) .. I have a Snapper 8HP 22 inch 2 stage snow thrower. Whatever you buy, just be sure it is no wider than the narrowest area you need to clear. The more HP and larger diameter chute, the better for wet / heavy snow.
And be sure to get a few extra shear bolts for when you run over the newspaper or hard ice. If they break and you have no spares, the auger goes nowhere.

 

[rudeguy]

welcome to MI, don't mind the smell

Shovel your drive, sidewalk and walkway. Keep your porch clear and salted.

If you have an elderly neighbor, you better bring your ass over and at least offer to shovel for them.

 

[Fern]

I'll throw another tip in here that everyone may or may not like:
If the forecast is calling for snow followed by freezing rain, I typically don't shovel the snow (or at least leave an inch or two) until after the freezing rain has finished. It's easy to walk on snow that has a sheet of ice on top of it (crunch, crunch, crunch), but it's not so easy to walk on a sheet of ice that's right on top of the concrete or pavement.

Also, stock up on salt (or some other product like Driveway Heat) and sand to spread when it's icey.

Good tip, that's what I was going to say.

While living in Connecticut I found that if you shovel up that snow before the freezing rain, the ice from the rain will stick to the asphalt and it's a bitch to remove.

Instead, let the ice form over that little bit of snow underneath it and it's far far easier to remove.

Fern

 

[kami333]

I heard that on the news this year. Pisses me off. It's a scam for the city to make money.

It also made me paranoid so I bought a snow blower...luckily I could afford it. In past years there's no way I could.

They've always had that ordinance, I got a warning about 15years ago when I lived at my parents in Sugarhouse. They live down the street from a junior high and I didn't shovel for a few weeks since I was basically only there to sleep. They did raise the price though, it used to be $25.